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MI Depends on Batters and Coach’s Insights in Qualifier Against Paarl Royals

BY DEAN CLOETE

MI Cape Town is counting on their dynamic batters and coach Robin Peterson’s insider insights about St George’s Park in Tuesday’s SA20 Qualifier against Paarl Royals.

The two Kaapse teams will clash for a spot in the final after finishing in first (MI) and second place (Royals) in the standings.

The winner of the Cape derby at 5.30pm will secure a place in Saturday’s final at the Wanderers.

However, defeat won’t mean elimination for the loser, as they’ll get a second chance to advance by facing the winner of Tuesday’s playoff between the teams that ended up third (Sunrisers Eastern Cape) and fourth (Joburg Super Kings) on Thursday.

INSIDER KNOWLEDGE: Coach Robin Peterson

Peterson aims to avoid an additional match and is eager to finish the mission in his hometown on Tuesday, stating: “Hopefully my local familiarity with St George’s Park will give us an advantage, but we still need to perform well.

“We are facing a tough competitor in Paarl Royals – they also seem to have great team spirit and a positive atmosphere in their setup.

“It’s going to be a challenging match, but the guys are eager and looking forward to the upcoming week.”

His batters, led by the tournament’s leading scorer during the round robin phase, Rassie van der Dussen, have displayed aggression throughout the tournament. While Peterson acknowledges that approaches may shift in the playoffs, he encourages them to stay wild.

Peterson notes: “The playoffs will bring a different dynamic; at times, a more pragmatic approach is necessary.

“However, the essence of this team is to be aggressive, and they should always embrace that.”



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